Shedding mechanism.



AWI'I'NEEEES.

G. PORTIER.

SHBDDING MECHANISM.

Arrmqulolg FILED JAN. 5, 1911.

y 2 SHEETS-)SHEET l.

INVENTDR.

iATTmRNEY.

` y G. PORTER.

SHBDDING MECHANISM. APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 5, 1911.

1,024,846. l Patented Apr. 305,191.2.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTDRNEY.

CULUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES xrE'r; oEEroE.

GEORGE FORTIER, OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH GEJOFFROY, OF WARREN, RHODE ISLAND.

SHEDDING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, GEORGE FoR'rIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at llfarren, in the county of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shedding Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to shedding mechanism for looms and has for its essential object the constant control of the heddle frames; the insurance of a perfect and ample shed; to impart a special shape to the shed; to remove the strain and weight of the heddles from the operating parts, as such weight otherwise would consume a great quantity of power and would throw strain upon parts not intended to bear the same.

A further object is to provide a plurality of means or a variety of combinations for throwing the heddles into and out of operation.

To the above ends, essentially, my invention consists in such novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts as are embraced by and so within the scope of the appended claims.

In the vaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are side, plan, and end elevations respectively of the frame containing the controlling elements of the novel mechanism, certain of the slides and feelers being omitted, and a portion of the top wall being broken away. Fig. 4, a detail front elevation of the pattern wheel locating or controlling device; Figs. 5, 6, and 7 sections taken on line a: of Fig. 2 showing the parts in various operative positions, exhibiting for diagrammatic purposes in broken lines certain cams and fingers, and Fig. 8, a diagrammatic view of the heddles and the operative connections between the heddles and the controlling device.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings 1 represents the frame or body of a loom of any usual construction and 2 a gear on the crank shaft or other operating shaft. Mounted in a bearing 4 upon a curved arm 5 fixed to the frame is the stud 6 of a gear 7 meshing with gear 2. Upon the face of the gear 7 is a pin 8 pivoting the lower end of a rod 9 whose upper end is pivotally connected with a vertically Specification of Letters Patent. I

Application filed January 5, 1911.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Serial No. 600,864.

disposed bar 11 provided with marginal teeth 12 and a lateral groove 13. In Fig. 8 are shown the usual heddles 15, the suspension cords 17 of which travel over rollers 18 and are attach-ed to the draw rods 19. In the present instance, the heddles have *depending cords 2O connected to the floor by springs 22.

Mounted upon one end of the loom frame is a framework for carrying my shedding mechanism. This frame may be ofany form best suited for supporting the several parts of my device. In the form thereof herein shown it comprises front and back walls 26 and 27 provided with longitudinal guide slots 28; an end wall 31, provided with a horizontal opening 32; a bottom wall 33 and a top wall or partial housing 34. k'Ihe wall 27 is longer than the wall 26 and, therefore, the wall 31 is transversely inclined. The wall 27 is provided with a lateral extension 36 having a vertical opening 37 into which extends avert-ical rib 38. This serves as a guideway for the bar 11, the rib 38 registering in the channel or groove 13.

Rotatably mounted in the walls 26 and 27 and in a lug or ear 40 upon` the extension 36 is a shaft 42 having fixed to its rear end a gear 43 of large diameter meshing with the teeth 12 of the rack through an open side of the extension. Upon the front end of the shaft 42 is fixed a gear 45 of smaller diameter than the gear 43.` Mounted in guideways 47 upon the back wall of the frame are longitudinally disposed upper and lower gear racks 50 and 51 engaging diametrically opposite points of the gear 43. In guideways 53 upon the front wall 26 are upper and lower gear racks 55 and 56 respectively engaging the gear 45 at diametrically opposite points. Pivoted to the forward or outer ends of the upper racks 50 and 55 by bolts 57 and 58 or otherwise is an inclined transverse knife 59 adapted to slide in the slots 28. Fixed lto or integral witlr the top forward end'of the rack 55 is a cam 61. Pivoted on bolts 62 and 63 in the forward ends of the lower racks 56 and 51 is a transversely inclined knife 65, carrying at its forward end or upon the rack 56 a cam 66. Fixed near the outer end of the frame in the side walls 26 and 27 are upper and lower flat crossbars 68 and 69 provided respectively with series of vertical guide plates sages 72 and 73. Slidably mounted in the frame are a series of longitudinally reciproeating members, each comprising a fiat vertical plate 75 provided with an integral draw rod 19 midway its length passing through the slot 32 in the rear wall 31, and provided with a perforation or projection 77 to receive the end of a suspension cord 17. Pivotally mounted by a pin 79 to the upper end of the plate 75 is a horizontal finger 80 provided intermediate its length with an elevated portion 81 having upon its rear margin an upper notch 82 and lower notch 83. The notch 82 is in advance of notch 83. Intermediate the elevation or projection 81 and the forward end of the finger is a hook or tooth 84. Pivoted to the lower end of the plate 75 by the pin 86 is a second finger 87 identical in detail to the first having the intermediate elevation 88 with upper and lower notches 89 and 90, and the forward hook or tooth 91. The plate 75 rests upon the floor or wall 33 and is limited in its rearward movement by the end wall 31. Each finger 80 traverses a passages 72 between guide plates 70; and each finger 87 traverses a passage 73 be tween the guide plate 71. 1n the lower portion of the forward end of the frame, xed in the walls 26, 27 is a circular bar 93. Loosely mounted on the bar 93 are feelers 95 and 96 arranged alternately side by side. The former has an elevated rear wardly projecting end 98 normally resting on the crossbar 68, while the rear end 99 of the feeler 96 rests normally on the bar 69. Upon the forward ends of the feelers 95 land 96 respectively rest the fingers 80 and 87 respectively. Pivotally mounted upon pins 101 in the forward upper portion of the walls 26, 27 are rearwardly directed arms 103 to whose free ends is fixed a transversely inclined hook bar 104- which rests upon the bottoms of openings 106 in said walls. Pivotally mounted upon pins 107 in said walls below the last described pins are rearwardly directed arms 109 whose ends are connected by a transversely inclined hook bar 111 which traverses openings 113 in the walls below the openings 106. Fixed to one arm 103 or to the end of the bar 104 is a resilient cam finger 115 extending into the path of the cam 61. Fixed to an arm 109 or to the end of hook bar 111 is a resilient cam finger 118 in the path of cam 66.

Mounted in lugs 120 upon the bottoms of walls 26 and 27 is the chain shaft 121 of the pattern chain 123 carrying the rows of pins 124. Upon the forward end of the shaft 121 is fixed a wheel 125 with ratchet teeth 126 and a handle 127. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 121 is a star wheel 128, in whose cavities 129 registers an angular cam 130 upon `the endof a cam rod 131 slidably mounted in lugs 133 upon the wall'27. The

cam is downwardly pressed by a spring 135 surrounding the rod 131 with one end pressing against a lug 133 and the other end restn A ing upon a shoulder 106 upon the rod. fhis .device is for centering or determining the llocation of the pin rows of the pattern chain. The device for operating the shaft 121 is the following: Fixed to or integral with the forward end of the rack 56 is a plate 138. Pivoted on a pin 139 in the plate is an arm 140 having a hook 141 upon its free end and upon its opposite end a projection 142 provided with a rounded end seated in a vertical forked arm 143 pivoted on a pin 144 in the plate 138 and integral with a horizontal arm 145 provided intermediate its length with a tooth 147. It will be noted that the arms 1112 and 1-13 form a knuckle joint. The rearward movement of the rack 56 draws the hookll11 against a tooth 126 and rotates the wheel 125 one tooth. The forward reciprocation of the rack then forces the tooth 1417 against one of the teeth 126 and rotates the wheel another space. Each intermittent advance of the shaft 121 pre* sents a fresh row of the pins 12a to the feelers selectively elevating the feelers and the particular draw bar fingers resting upon said feelers.

Referring further to the operation of the mechanism: the toothed bar 11 is vertically reciprocated by the gear 7 and through the gear 43 reeiprocates in opposite directions the gear racks 50 and 51, and through the gear -15 reciprocates the gear racks 55 and 56 in opposite directions; the upper and lower racks on each side operate in unison but travel different distances because of the difference in diameter of the gears 413 and 15. That is to say, the rear racks 50 and 51 reciprocate at greater speed than the respectivo front racks 55 and 56, thus varying the inclinations of the knives 59 and 65 which has the effect of raising the heddles more remote from the shuttle a greater distance than those nearer the shuttle, and thus insuring a. perfect shed.

he rods 19 are under a continuous rearward tension by virtue of the springs 22. The fingers 80 and 87 are primarily advanced or reciprocated by the knives 59 and 65. rEhe limit of the retrograde movement of the plates 75 is the wall 31, but the rearward travel of the knives 59 and 65 is somewhat greater, so that when either of said knives is in its rearmost position the notch 83 or 90 is released and the corresponding finger 80 or 87 falls by gravity.

The described arrangement of knives, notches, feelers and cams is capable of a great variety of variations corresponding with the differing numbers and locations of the various pins of the pattern chain. One cycle of operations only will be herein given, some of the positions of the parts in this cycle being shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive. In Fig. 5 the parts are shown in the idle position occupied when the heddles are at their lowest position, and it is proposed to elevate a heddle during several picks through an upper finger 80 and bar 104. The knife 59 in its advance engages the upper notch 82 of the finger 80 which has been elevated into its path by an upper feeler 95, and forwardly pushes the finger S0 until the forward hook 84 extends in advance of the bar 104 which has meanwhile been elevated by the cam 61 and cam finger 115. Meanwhile a lower feeler 96 has elevated a lower finger 87 so that its hook 91 is in position to engage lower hook bar 111 and disengage it at the instant of reverse movement of the two knives, as shown in F ig. 6. During the return retrograde travel of the knife 59 the knife 65 advances, engages the lower notch 90, advances the tooth 91 away out of engagement with the bar 111, which disengagement is rendered more certain by the upward tension of the resilient cam arm 118 under stress created by cam 60. At the time of the disengagement of the hook 91 a pin 124 again elevates the feeler 95 and the finger 80 so that the hook 84 is in advance of the hook bar 104 and at this time the bar 104 is in the path of the tooth because the cam arm 115 has been dropped long since by the cam 61 and at the reverse movement the parts are as shown in Fig. 7 namely, the rod 19 and its connected heddle are held suspended through the finger S0 and hook bar 104 any desired length of time demanded by the pattern,- either momentarily or permanently, and during this suspension it will be observed that there is no weight or strain upon the fingers 80, S7, or rod 19, or any other power operated parts.

When the pattern demands the elevation of a heddle through a lower finger 87 and bar 111 the steps of the cycle are the reverse of those described, namely, the initial movement is the advance of the lower nger 87 by the bar 65 seated in upper notch 89, the intermediate engagement and release of the upper finger and hook bar, and the final permanent engagement of the lower nger and hoo-k bar. The great variety of cycles rendered possible by the present structure are as varied as the patterns upon the chain and need not be herein further illustrated.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination with a frame and a draw rod slidable therein, of a finger pivotally connected with said rod and provided at one end with a hook and intermediate its ends with a pair of notches, one of which is located above and in advance of the other, a reciprocating knife arranged for interchangeable engagement in said notches, to advance said finger, and a locking bar pivoted to said frame and arranged to engage said hook when said finger is in its advanced position.

2. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination, with a frame, a shaft journaled therein, and` means for reciprocating said shaft, of a pair of gears mounted on said shaft, a pair of reversely-toothed racks engaged by each gear for movement thereby in opposite directions, a transversely arranged knife connecting the corresponding racks of each pair, a chain shaft journaled in said frame, a ratchet wheel secured to t-he chain shaft, a plate connected to one of said racks, and a pair of pawls pivoted to said plate and having a knuckle joint connection with each other, said pawls being provided with reversely-arranged teeth adapted to engage said ratchet wheel for rotating the lat-- ter one step during each movement of said plate.

3. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination with a frame and a draw-rod slidable therein, of a pair of superposed fingers pivoted to said rod, a pair of transversely arranged superposed members adapted to engage said fingers for advancing the same, means for reciprocating said members lin opposite directions, a chain shaft journaled in said frame, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a reciprocating plate connected with said reciprocating means for operation thereby, and a pair of pawls pivoted to said plate and having a knuckle joint connection with each other, said pawls being provided with reversely arranged teeth adapted to engage said ratchet wheel for rotating the latte-r one step during each movement of said plate.

4. In a shedding motion for looms, the

combination `with a frame and a draw-y rod slidable therein, of a pair of superposed fingers pivoted to said rod, a pair of transversely-arranged superp osed members adapted to engage said fingers for advancing the same, means for reciprocating said members in opposite directions, a chain shaft journaled in said frame, a ratchet Wheel secured to said shaft, and a reciprocating plate connected with said reciprocating means for opperation thereby and provided with'a pair of reversely-arranged pawls engaged with said ratchet wheel for rotating the latter one step during each movement of said plate.

5. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination, with a frame, and a draw-rod slidable therein, of a pair of superposed fingers pivotally connected with said rod and provided each at one end with a hook and intermediate its ends with a notch, a pair of transversely-arranged superposed knives arranged to engage said notches for advancing said `fingers, mechanism for reciprocating said knives in opposite directions comprising two pairs of elements with which the knives are pivotally connected, one of said pairs of elements moving at a greater speed than the other, whereby said knives are free to assume inclined positions during the movements of said elements, and a pair of snperposed locking hars pivoted to said frame and arranged to engage said hooks when said fingers are in their advanced positions.

6. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination, with a frame, and a draw-rod slidahle therein, of a pair of superposed fingers pivotally connected with said rod and arovided each at one end with a hook and intermediateI its ends with a notch, a shaft jonrnaled in said frame, means for reciprocating said shaft, a pair of gears mounted on said shaft, a pair of reverselytoothed racks engaged by each gear for movement thereby in opposite directions, one of said gears having a greater diameter than the other gear to canse one pair of racks to move at a greater speed than the other pair of racks, a pair of transversely arranged superposed knives arranged to engage said notches for advancing said fingers, said knives having their ends pivoted to the forward ends of the corresponding racks of both pairs, whereby said knives are free to assume inclined positions during t-he\ movements of said racks, and a pair of superposed locking hars pivoted to said frame and arranged to engage said hooks when said fingers are in their advanced p0- sitions.

7. In a shedding motion for looms, the combination, with a frame, and a draw-rod slidabie therein, of a pair of superposed fingers pivoted to said rod, a pair of transverselyarranged superposed members adapted to engage said ngers for advancing the saine, a shafty jonrnaled in said frame, means for reciprocating said shaft, a pair of gears mounted on said shaft, a pair of reversely-toothed racks engaged hy each gear for movement thereby in opposite directions, said knives having their ends pivoted to the forward ends of the corresponding racks of both pairs, a chain shaft jonrnaled in said frame, a ratchet wheel secured to said chain shaft, a reciprocating plate connected to one of said racks, and a pair of reversely-arranged. pawls carried by said plate and engaged with said ratchet wheel, for rotating the latter one step dnring each movement of said plate.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FORTIER.

iVitnesses Iloinx'rio E. BnLLows, GEORGE H. MoLAUor-ILIN.

Copies of Ithis patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

